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Veterans Day: Now in their 90s, Las Cruces couple share WWII memories

By Matlin Smith / msmith@lcsun-news.com

Posted:
11/08/2012 04:16:40 PM MST

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Betty and James Somppi relax on the back porch of their Las Cruces home. The Sompiis are World War II veterans who retired in Las Cruces in 1994, and now spend their time traveling the world and enjoying their children and grandchildren in Las Cruces.

LAS CRUCES — "I realize very well the debt we owe our veterans, and I feel very proud to be one."

Betty Somppi, 97, a pioneer of women's roles in the U.S. military, reflected on what Veterans Day means to her from her Las Cruces home.

Veterans Day is Sunday.

"Having been a part of the military myself, and an Air Force wife for 25 years, I know both sides and how hard the families have it. I wouldn't trade it though," she said.

Somppi was a teacher and lab technician who sought out military opportunities for women when World War II began.

Following interviews at the city and state levels, she was selected as one of only 1,300 women across the United States to be a part of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in 1942, after a bill that allowed women to step into military roles to release men for combat duty.

"When the war began, there was no place for women — especially young women who wanted to do something to serve," she said.

After weeks of rigorous training in Des Moines, Iowa, Somppi said women were assigned to work in jobs like motor transportation, as clerks, and as cooks and bakers, officially becoming part of the U.S. Army a year later.

"What was interesting to me was, by the end of that year, women in the field were in 239 different jobs in the military," she said.

During the war, the Pennsylvania native trained military enlistees in Des Moines and Fort Ogelthorpe, Ga., covering chemical warfare and map-reading. She served until the end of the war, reaching the rank of captain.

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"I got to train all of the people to do all of the interesting things I was dying to do," she said.

While in the service, Betty Somppi married fellow World War II soldier James Somppi during a weekend both were on leave.

Betty wed in her uniform and shortly after, James Somppi was deployed to the Pacific Theater. The newlyweds did not see each other until the war ended more than two years later. In December, they will have been married for 69 years.

James Somppi, 91, volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Corps when he was 21 years old in 1942. Being a mechanic in his civilian life, Somppi said he became an aircraft mechanic, working on B12 airplanes.

"I decided that being a crew chief on a maintenance crew was good, but I decided I would like to get into combat fight training," he said.

James Somppi eventually became a top turret gunner on a fighter plane and was deployed to China as part of the Flying Tigers of the 14th U.S. Air Force.

"That's about as dangerous as you can get," his wife said.

As a Flying Tiger, Somppi said his crew's job was to contain Chinese forces and target shipping stations, railroads and other ground targets.

The airman spent 25 years in the Air Corps, half being spent as a commissioned officer. He moved up to second lieutenant.

"You never really leave the military. It's part of you," he said.

The Sompiis retired to Las Cruces in 1994 to be closer to family, independently traveling around the world in their retirement. Both agreed New Zealand has been their favorite place to visit, though they've also been to China and Belize, among other destinations.

Veterans Day events

Saturday

— 9 a.m. Veterans Day parade. Route will start at Main Street and Lohman Avenue and travel north on Church Street and south on Water Street. The reviewing stand will be on the front steps of the old city hall on Church Street.

— Parade marshals this year are Las Cruces native and World War II bombardier veteran, USAAF, and retired New Mexico Supreme Court Justice Dan Sosa; and World War II/Korean veteran retired Col. Milton Buls, USAF.

— VFW Post 3242 will serve menudo immediately following the parade.

Sunday

— 8 a.m. The garrison flag will be raised at Veterans Memorial Park, 2651 Roadrunner Parkway; it will be lowered at 5 p.m.

— 11 a.m. Veterans Day ceremony at Parque de los Veteranos in Mesilla, corner of Avenida de Mesilla and Calle del Norte. Free lunch for veterans to follow at Andele's Dog House.

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